M.S. in Psychology: Research Concentration

The Mission of the Master of Psychology: Research Concentration is to prepare students
for careers in research and teaching. Using a mentoring model in which each student
works closely with a faculty sponsor, we allow the student to gain experience relevant
to pursuing a career in psychology. The mission is accomplished by addressing three
specific goals. First, we prepare students with research skills that enable them
to assist in the design and analysis of behavioral data. Second, we allow students
to work in a collaborative fashion with experienced research scientists to gain first-hand
knowledge of the demands of research. This task is often accomplished through service
learning activities connecting the student with projects in the community. Third,
we teach our students to teach others, and provide them with opportunities to gain
supervised experience conducting classes in the Department of Psychology, including
laboratory supervision through teaching a self-contained undergraduate course.

The Research concentration is designed for students who wish to pursue graduate study
of topics other than I/O or clinical psychology. The objective of the research program
is to provide students with in-depth knowledge and research experiences that will
prepare them for doctoral work or applied research positions.

Specialty areas related to the interests and backgrounds of primary supervising faculty
are offered. A list of current faculty and their research interests is available
from the research program coordinator. Because of the tutorial nature of the program,
students whose interests and abilities closely approximate the areas of interest of
the primary supervising faculty will be most able to profit from the program. Students
should contact the coordinator of the research concentration for discussion of the
specialty areas which are offered and review the departmental web site and faculty
publications. This is an important process because the research concentration is
based on a "mentoring model" whereby each student works closely with an individual
faculty member throughout his/her course of study within the department. This person
is the student's faculty sponsor; this sponsor often becomes the student's academic
advisor and may chair the student's thesis committee. Sponsorships will be determined
through reviews of the applications of students who are academically qualified by
virtue of their undergraduate work and GRE scores and whose research interests match
current faculty interests and availability. Applications should include a personal
statement that clearly identifies research interests and potential faculty sponsors.

Students in the program will acquire the variety of statistical and methodological
skills required for conducting research in psychology. Opportunities for intensive
individual study in the chosen specialty area will be provided. Students will be
given research experience under the supervision of a faculty advisor. This research
experience will culminate in the preparation of a thesis.

A full-time student can complete the degree in two years (four semesters). Some of
the courses are offered in the evening.

Research Facilities

The Department of Psychology is housed in Holt Hall. A well-equipped computer lab
is located near the department offices. Lab space is available for research studies.
In addition, the University computers support Microsoft office and major statistical
packages and all have internet access.

Thesis

Students should begin work on developing a thesis during their first year, exploring
ideas and examining the existing research literature. The thesis consists of either
an original empirical research project or a theoretical or conceptual interpretation
of existing psychological thought based on material previously published. Graduate
students who are writing a thesis must choose a thesis advisor from among the faculty.
Thesis in Psychology typically follow the timeline presented in the Thesis Calendar.

Admissions Procedures

The research program is individually tailored to meet each student's needs and goals.
Because it is primarily a tutorial program with a strong emphasis on independent study
and one-to-one faculty/student interaction, the number of students admitted each year
is quite limited. In addition to GPA and GRE scores, admission decisions are heavily
based on the personal statement which should detail the applicant's research interests
and educational goals. Persons wishing to apply to this program should obtain a listing
of the current research interests of the faculty to determine which instructor would
best match or support their needs. This list is available from the coordinator of
the research program.

Applicants must:

Hold a baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited college or university.

Submit an official score (not over five years old) for the Graduate Record Exam (GRE).

Submit three letters of recommendation and a personal statement. Personal statements
should describe the student’s career goals, research interests and a faculty member
who can serve as their mentor. Our program focuses on a mentor based approach. The
student and the mentor work to develop the skills the students are hoping to develop.

Have a minimum grade point average of 2.7 (based on a 4.0 scale) on all undergraduate
work taken prior to receiving the baccalaureate degree or 3.0 in the senior year.
In a typical year, the average GPA of admitted applicants is 3.4; GRE scores and GPA
are combined into a single admissions index.

Research Psychology Forms

Applicants who wish to maximize their probability of admission should be sure to have
their application materials complete by March 15 for the fall semester or October
15 for the spring semester. The admissions committee will make their first set of
decisions shortly after these dates. Applications will be considered through July
15 for the fall semester as long as space is still available.